Cupola charger



Nov. l, 1927.

CUPOLA CHARGER Filed May 18. 1926 J. W. MOORE ET AL.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

umfrojsmts vPATarJ'r oFFiCE,

JAMES W. MOORE Aim smarriti; D. acatar, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA,AssiGNoRs To AMERICAN CAST IRON Rien C QMPANY, or BIRigLInsHAM, ALABAMA,A COR- roRATioiv on GEORGIA.

Application filed May 18,

This invention is an improvement in cupola. charger, and relates rmoreparticu-- larly to a. charger designed to distribute the charge in thecupola. in even layers of uniform thickness.

n usual methods of charging cupolas, the

Charce is eelivered either lb 1 dum nino' the charge into the cupolafrom the side, or by carrying the charge into the cupola and dropping itonto the preceding charge.

In either case a relatively high stack is required, in order thatthecharge may tall a considerable distance, since in this way only can thecharge be scattered or spread.

The long drop ot the charge objectionable tor many reasons, among whichmay be mentioned the increasedy cost ot ation. the arrangement requiringas it does a high stack cupola, and the breaking; ot the coke from thefall. A further objection is that the high drop of the charge injuresthe refractory lining of the cupola, and furthermore the arrangementislimited to email charges and hence to cupolas of relatively smallcapacity. y e

One ot' the primary objects of the present mst-aV invention is theprovision ot a charger operated from the side, and near the level ot thematerial in the cupola,v requiring thus a minimum ot drop tor thecharge.

A 'further object is the provision ot mechanism in connection with thecharger and operated by the movement thereof into and out ot the cupolafor distributing the charge over the entire area of the material alreadydeposited in a layer of uniiorm thickness.

A i'urther objectis the provision of a charger utilizing a support forcharging boa' movable laterally into and out or" the cupola, thereby todump and remove the Aboit with a niinin'iuin of exposure of the parts toiheheat of the cupola.y

il! ith these and other objects in vi .v the invention consists theconstruction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter,illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, and pointed out intheclaimsappended hereto, it being understoodthat various changes in the 4form,proportion, size and minor details of construction Within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to Without 'departing troni the spirit'otthe* invention.

CUPCLA CHARGER.

1926. Serial 1:10. 109,826.

In the .drawings forminga part hereof:

Fig l is a side view ot the charger boa, with the cupola and associatedparts' in vertical section. I'

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 'ofl Fig. l. Fig. '3 is a detailside view showing the box 1n another position. y

Fig. tis a top plan vie shitting paWl. i Y

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with thestack l ot a' cupola 0ii usualv construction, having' the lateralcharging opening- 2, Which is at about the highest level ot the materialin the cupola. A trame `Work 3 yis arranged at the charging opening 2,and just below the same, and this trame Work supports a pair of rails 4which incline toward the charging opening from theirouter ends, thetrame work beingconstructed to support the r ils in this position. l

A carriage 5 of suitable construction is mounted to move upon the rails,the carriage iaving iianged Wheels 6 Which run upon the rails, and itWill be evident that dueto the inclination of the rails, the carriage.yis biased by gra vity to move toward ther cupola.

A tilting trame or rtipple 7 is pivoted to the front endof Vthecarriage, the pivotal W of the switch or lconnection indicated at 8being at a point remote trom the trent end ot the trame. Thearrangement/is such that above ione# thirdot' the length of the frameprojects be-r yond t-he front en d of the carriage as clearly' shown.Any suitable pivotal connection may be provided and the tramo normallyseats upon the carriage as shown in Fig. l.'

A plurality oit rails 9 is arranged in spaced relation transversely ofthe frame, atV the ends and intermediate the ends thereof, and theserails serve as seats for receiving a charger boX 10. Guide plates ll aresecured 'to the frame at each side thereo-the plates being arranged yinpairs, and sov spaced laterally oi the trame, that the charger boX Willfit between them. These plates prevent lateral movement of the chargerbox when seated on the frame.

y One end of the charger box is open, and the box is seated on thevtrame with the open f end toward the cupola, The boi; has `adependingiiange or stop 1i at the closed end,

upper edges cut away as shown at 33, to receive the pinsBQ, which engageLtheyokes at the ends of the cut away portions. The arrangement is suchthat when the bridle bar is lowered theyolres will drop below the levelof the pins, as indicated in dotted lines.

in 'F ig. l, so that they do not interfere with the forward movement ofthe box. lhen the empty box has been returned vto the posi-- tion ofFig. l, lifting movement of the bridle bar will re-engage the yokes withthe pins, to enable removal of the empty box.

The improved charger may be controlled by a single operative. By meansof the crane the voperative picks up a loaded box,

and delivers it to the tilting frame of the carriage pertaining to thecupola to be charged. Lowering the yokes 3l, he Will then operate thevalve controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to and from thecylinder l2, tomove the piston in a direction to allow the carriage withitsloadl to run toward the cupola under the influence of gravy thelcarriage moves backward, they are di-v vei'tedv into the traclrwaybetween the rails 23,-2Ll 25 and 26-27-28. j rlhe framev is tiltedJfurther, as it moves outward and the whole of the charge in the box isdistributed on top of that alreadydelivered. Thus the chargev is evenlydistributed throughout thecross-sectional area ot the cupola stack.

lhen the carriage leaves the position ol' Fig. l, the yolics 8l arelifted, the empty box is removed to the place otreiilling, and a lilledbox may then be delivered to the same,

or another cupola. @ne crane and operator may serve several cupolas, asfor instance three. The charge is laid onto the contents of the cupolainstead of being' dropped, so that the colre is not broken, there is aminumum risk` orp injury to the refractory lining, and the tipple andcharger box are never in the cupola'long enough orthe heat toy damagethem. Since the charging opening is at aboutthe l-evel otthe top of thematerial in the cupola, high stack cupolas are notv essential, so thatthe construction is tmore.

economical vthan with the usual process.

The charge fed at' each operation may bev as large as required, s otliatthe device is not J limited to cupolas of relativelysmalvl .capacr ity,although ,it is equallywell .adapted for suchV cupolas. No part of .thecharging mechanism is subjected to the heat ofthe lcupola except thecharging boxes and .the

Vdrop to cause jar or shock.

:abruptly further tiltfthev box to tipple frame which are easilyrenewable.

l low, and the operating and maintenance costs are also low. The frontend of the charging box bottom lays the charge instead of dumping orchuting and there is no long sa A minimum ot labcr is required incharging, and the device can be served by standard `overhead cranes ortrolleys.

lVhile fluid pressure controlled mechanism s is utilized in the presentinstance to control the movement of the loaded carriage under gravity,it is obvious that any other suitable means might be substituted.Gravity is utilized to move the load, and power to return the emptycarriage.l Thus the power consumption Vvis extremely low.

l/Vhat is claimed as new is: j

l. In a cupola having a charging opening, means to support and guideacharging boi; through the opening' into andeutet the cupola, inechanismfor tilting the box vas itl moves toward and Afrom the cupola, saidmechanism including meanslto gradually ti,t

ingl as it moves into the cupola, vand other means to abruptlyfurthertilt the box to dis.- charge the contents thereof as it beginsits movement of withdrawal, thereby to spread said vcontents in a lay-erfrom ythe rear to the IH front of the cupola.V 2. In a cupolahaving achargingopening, means to support and guide a chargingbou under thelinfluence of gravity through the opening rinto and out of the cupcla,mechan lig nism for tiltingthe box as it nioves`toward and from thecupola, said mechanism includ ing means to gradually tiltthe box to aposition just short of discharging as it moves into the cupola, andother means to abruptly l urther tilt the box to discharge the contentsthereof as it begins its movement of withdrawal, thereby to spread saidcontents in a layer from the rear to the front of the cupola. 3. In acupola having a charging opening, means to support and guide/.a chargingbex through the opening .into and out oil the cupola, mechanism fortilting .the box as moves `toward and ,from the cupola, -iid mechanismincluding means to gradually tilt the box to atpositionjust short ofdischarging as it moves into lthecupola, means to discharge the contentsthereot as lit beginsv its `movement of withdrawal, thereby to spreadsaid i .in

contents in a layer from the rear to the front of the cupola, and othermeans to return the box to its normal position as the movement ofwithdrawal is completed.

4f. In a cupola having a charging opening, a trackway to support andguide a charger box for movement through the opening into and out of thecupola, said traclrway inclined to cause the box to move by gravitytoward the cupola, tilting mechanism for the box including means togradually tilt the box as it moves into the cupola to an inclinationjust short of discharge, means to further tilt the box to dischargingposition as it commences its movement of withdrawal, means to restorethe box to normal position at the completion of the movement ofwithdrawal, and power' operated means for moving the box away from thecupola and for controlling the movement thereof toward the cupola.

5. In a cupola having a charging opening, charging mechanism including acarriage moving by gravity toward the charging opening, means to controlthe movement of the carriage toward the opening and to return the same,a tilting frame at the front end of the carriage for supporting acharger box, mechanism to tilt the frame as the carriage moves towardand from the cupola, said mechanism including means to gradually tiltthe box to a position just short of discharge as it reaches the end ofits inward movement, means to impart a sharper tilt .to the frame as thecarriage commences its movement of withdrawal, and other means togradually return the box to normal position at the end of the movementof withdrawal.

6. ln a cupola having a charging opening, charging mechanism including acarriage moving` by gravity toward the charging opening, means tocontrol the movement of the carriage toward the opening and to returnthe same, a tilting frame at the front end of the carriage forsupporting a charger box, mechanism to tilt the frame as the carriagemoves toward and from the cupola, said mechanism including means togradually tilt the box to a position just short of discharge as itreaches the end of its inward movement, means to impart a sharper tiltto the frame as the carriage commences its movement of withdrawal, andother means to gradually return the box to normal position at the end ofthe movement of withdrawal, and means for engagement by the carriage topositively checlr the movement thereof just before the charger boxreaches the rear wall of the cupola.

7. ln a cupola having a charging opening, charging mechanism including acarriage moving by gravity toward the charging opening, a tilting frameat the front end of the carriage 'for supporting a charger box andextending beyond the carriage to support the box with approximately halfthe length thereof beyond the carriage end, means to control themovement of the carriage toward the opening and to return the same, andmechanism for tilting the frame as it moves toward and from the cupola,said mechanism including means to gradually tilt the frame to a positionjust short of discharging as it reaches the end of its inward movement,means to further tilt the box to discharge the contents as the carriagecommences its return movement, and other means to gradually return theframe to normal untilted position as it reaches the end of its outwardmovement.

8. In a cupola having a charging opening, charging mechanism including atrack inclining' downwardly toward the opening, a carriage on the track,a tilting frameat the forward end of the carriage, said tipple havingmeans to support a charger box with the end toward the cupola open,means to control the movement of the'carriage toward the cupola underthe influence of gravity, and mechanism for tilting the frame as itmoves toward and from the cupola, said mechanism including means togradually tilt the frame to a position just short of discharging as itreaches the end of its inward movement, means to further tilt the box todischarge the contents as the carriage commences its return movement,and other means to gradually return the frame to normal untiltedposition as it reaches the end of its outward movement, and stops on thetrack to limit the movement of the carriage toward the cupola, soYplaced that the frame will extend into the 'cupola and to near the rearwall thereof when the stops are engaged by the carriage.

9. In a cupola having a charging opening, charging mechanism including atrack inclining downwardly toward the opening, aV

carriage movable on the track, a tilting frame at the forward end of thecarriage for supporting a chargerv box and so placed with respect to thecarriage that vthe weight of the box will normally Vjnevent tilting ofthe frame, mechanism for tilting the frame as the carriage moves towardand from the cupola, said mechanism including means to gradually tiltthe box to a position just short of discharge as it reaches the end ofits inward movement, and means to further tilt the box to discharge thecontentsthereof as it begins its movement of Withdrawal, said mechanismincluding rollers at the rear of the frame, traclrways one above theother inclining in opposite directions to the horizontal for engagementby the rollers, and switches for deflecting the rollers from the lowerto the upper traclrways when the box commences its return movement fromthe cupola.

10. In a cupola charger, a tipple, and a depending yoke, each yokeincluding an i5 means to place the boxes on the tipple and remove themtherefrom, including yokes, each having a substantially horizontal armwith recesses on the upper edge thereof, the boxes having laterallyextending pins to rest in the recesses, said arms engaged and disengagedby relative vertical movement of theV yolzes and box. v

l1. In a cupola charger, a tipple, and means to place charger boxes onthe 'tipple, and remove them therefrom, each box having at each end apair of laterally extending pins, a bridle bar provided at each end Withupper arm connected With the bridle bar and a lower arm extendingsubstantially horizontal, and recessed on its upper edge to receive thepins of the charger box, and to be engaged With and disengaged from thepins by relative vertical movement of the yokes and box.

Signed at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State ot' Alabama,this 13th day of May A. D. 1926.

JAMES W. MOORE. STEPHEN D. MOXLEY.

